Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 12/16/2012

Game grabs a Top 5 debut with "Jesus Piece" as Big Boi's "Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors" just misses Top 30.

Two key additions hit the charts in one of 2012's final weeks. In his latest publicity wave, Game's Jesus Piece garnered a Top 5 debut, selling over 85,000 units. Meanwhile, veteran lyricist Big Boi delivered his second solo album in three years with Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors, debuting at #33.

Game Has Reason To Clutch His Jesus Piece

Game's fifth solo album, Jesus Piece, marked the lowest chart debut in the rapper's decade-long career. At #5, the Geffen Records release reunited Game with longtime collaborator Kanye West on the title track. One of the album's singles, "Celebration," united Wiz Khalifa, Tyga and Lil Wayne over a sample of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's classic "1st Of Tha Month." Incidentally, Game brought all five members of BTNH together for the "Celebration" remix. On the Best Buy version of Jesus Piece, Game included "Blood Of Christ," a diss record prominently aimed at Tony Yayo and Shyne.

Vicious Week For Big Boi

OutKast's Big Boi released his second Def Jam solo album in Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors. The release failed to enter the Top 30, debuting at #33. Following the Funk-infused Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son Of Chico Dusty, this effort features an array of out-of-genre acts, including Little Dragon, Phantogram and Wavves. V.L.A.D.R. sold less than half of the first-week units scanned in 2010. Interestingly, Dungeon Family brethren Cee-Lo of Goodie Mob out-sold Big Boi with his Holiday album, which has been at retail for over seven weeks. Big Boi's current single "In The A" features Ludacris and T.I., which is co-produced by longtime Dungeon Family affiliate C-Bone.